Afkar.me and in5 will be co-hosting the UAE edition of the ‘Get in the Ring’ competition, part of the Erasmus Centre for Entrepreneurship (ECE).

Afkar.me, the region’s first full spectrum digital oriented product incubator run by Intigral, and in5, a Dubai-based innovation hub which supports start-up ICT and digital media entrepreneurs, are hosting the ‘Get in the Ring’ competition as part of their commitment to support the growth of MENA’s start-up ecosystem and promoting Dubai as the region’s start-up hub.

The UAE ‘Olympics for start-ups’ will be held at in5 on October 11, 2014, where a UAE national champion will be chosen. The UAE champion will battle against other promising start-ups in the region in a regional final to be held in Riyadh. The winner will get the opportunity to pitch for an investment of up to €1,000,000 in the global final in Rotterdam.

“A million Euros and international visibility is going to dramatically transform anybody’s business,” said JJ De La Torre, VP of Digital at Intigral and founder of Afkar.me.

“We have seen that it can be difficult for successful start-ups in the Middle East to gain access to international angel investment, by partnering with in5 and bringing this highly-acclaimed worldwide start-up platform to the UAE, we are giving a home grown start-up the opportunity to compete on the global stage.”

Majed Al Suwaidi, Managing Director of Dubai Internet City and Dubai Outsource Zone, said: “At in5, we support ICT and Digital media start-ups from idea creation, to implementation and right through to the commercial launch, and this joint initiative with Intigral is very much aligned with our business incubation goals. The availability of the right framework of mentorship, funds, and expert support form the most vital elements for success of a start-up. ‘Get in the Ring’ addresses all these points and provides a comprehensive platform to transform a good business model into a great business model. It is a great opportunity for talented entrepreneurs to showcase their skills and take their businesses to the next level.”